Staff members of a polling station sing the national anthem in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, March 2, 2025. Voting in the elections for the lower house of Tajikistan's parliament began at 6:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on Sunday. (Xinhua/Zhao Yu)
DUSHANBE, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Voting in the elections for the lower house of Tajikistan's parliament began at 6:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on Sunday.
A total of 220 candidates, including representatives from six political parties and some independents, are competing for 63 seats in the lower house.
Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon, leader of the ruling People's Democratic Party, cast his ballot on Sunday morning at polling station No. 15 in the capital city of Dushanbe.
According to data released by Tajikistan's Central Election Commission (CEC), the country currently has more than five million registered voters. There are 3,513 polling stations nationwide, along with 36 overseas polling stations.
Forty-one seats out of all 63 seats in the lower house will be elected from among 152 candidates across 41 constituencies, while the remaining 22 seats will be contested by 68 candidates nominated by the six parties which are participating in the elections.
According to Tajik law, voting will conclude at 8:00 p.m. local time (1500 GMT). ■
A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, March 2, 2025.
Voting in the elections for the lower house of Tajikistan's parliament began at 6:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on Sunday. (Xinhua/Zhao Yu)
Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon casts his ballot at a polling station in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, March 2, 2025.
Voting in the elections for the lower house of Tajikistan's parliament began at 6:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on Sunday. (Xinhua/Zhao Yu)
A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, March 2, 2025.
Voting in the elections for the lower house of Tajikistan's parliament began at 6:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on Sunday. (Xinhua/Zhao Yu)
Rustam Emomali, chairman of the National Assembly of Tajikistan and mayor of Dushanbe, casts his ballot at a polling station in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, March 2, 2025.
Voting in the elections for the lower house of Tajikistan's parliament began at 6:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on Sunday. (Xinhua/Zhao Yu)
A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, March 2, 2025.
Voting in the elections for the lower house of Tajikistan's parliament began at 6:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) on Sunday. (Xinhua/Zhao Yu)
